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Oregon Ducks at Stanford Cardinal 5:00 PM ET
Oregon Ducks +4 –110 (2 Units)
The Ducks aren't as bad as people think. Outside of an embarrassing debut against Indiana (they outgained the Hoosiers 495-198), their only losses have come to No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 23 Arizona State. Oregon has won three of its last four games and simply has better all-around athletes than Stanford on both sides of the football. In their last 4 games, they have outyarded the competition 1904-1195. After an 0-2 start, the Ducks have reached the .500 mark for the first time this season and are in a five-way logjam for second place in the conference behind USC. The Ducks look to ride the momentum from emerging offensive and defensive attacks that have quietly ascended the national ladder as they hope to negate their own self-imposed restrictions.
After throwing three interceptions in the opener, QB Kellen Clemens has not thrown one since, and he's completing 62.1 percent of his passing attempts. He has risen to ninth in the country in total offense will take his chances against a defense rated last in the Pac-10 defending the pass. Clemens was 21 of 30 for 336 yards and a touchdown last week against Arizona. That came on the heels of his scintillating performance at Washington St. Clemens accounted for 473 yards in total offense (a career-high 437 yards passing) and tied a school record with six touchdowns in a 41-38 win that may have turned Oregon's season around. He leads the Pac-10 in total offense at 290 yards per game and he has thrown 170 consecutive passes without an interception, believed to be an Oregon record. Coach Mike Bellotti, who called Clemens' performance against Arizona his best effort of the season because of "his command of the game," said Clemens has assumed more of a leadership role this season. "He's a more demonstrative leader, more willing to call people out and require attention in meetings and things like that," Bellotti said. Receiver Demetrius Williams has been hounded by numerous ailments, most prominently a turf toe, but he caught nine passes for 153 yards against the Wildcats and could be the playmaker that Bellotti has been clamoring for. Oregon has a running back in Terrence Whitehead (averaging 5.7 yards per carry) to balance out the attack and keep Stanford honest defensively. Whitehead has rushed for 566 yards and four touchdowns; the Ducks are 2-0 when he rushes for more than 100 yards. Whitehead, who already has doubled his previous output of 100-yard efforts this season, will attempt to do so for the third time in his career vs. Stanford. The Stanford defense is allowing 16.2 points per game, second in the Pac-10 but it ranks 10th in pass defense, still much better than last year at 228 yards per game. However, facing the best quarterback they have seen since USC will be difficult. The Cardinal offense averages 28.5 points and 389 yards, fifth in the Pac-10 and substantially better than last year. Stanford is coming off a solid road win at Washington St. even though they were outyarded 437-383 and not going against the Cougars starting quarterback. Oregon is also improving on the other side of the ball. Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata appears to be finding his rhythm after injury problems. Ngata looked like what everyone expected Haloti Ngata to look like. He had a team-high eight tackles, including three for loss last week against Arizona. Oregon held Arizona to 266 total yards and 110 yards rushing. Now, the Wildcats are far from the best offense the Ducks will see, but in past years Oregon hasn't always stopped the bad ones. Oregon actually has the Pac-10's best pass defense midway through the year. In more good news, three other players who've missed action due to injury should be back for the Stanford game: cornerback Marques Binns, offensive lineman Robin Knebel and defensive tackle Matt Toeaina. The Ducks seemingly know their faults - 62 penalties in six games for 98.3 yards per game (most in the Pac-10), 20 sacks allowed (another Pac-10 high) and 12 fumbles lost (most in the Pac-10). And Oregon has overcome them, especially in the last two weeks against defenses on a par with Stanford’s. Last year, the Ducks snuffed Stanford on seven snaps at the goal line in “maybe one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen,” Bellotti said. It boiled down to strength, and “line of scrimmage,” Bellotti added. Revenge can be considered a motivation for Stanford but there really aren’t any games they can’t classify as payback situations. "Every game up to this point has been against teams that have beat up on us the last two years. Washington, Washington State ... everyone has kind of had our number,'' said Stanford senior linebacker David Bergeron.
Oregon Ducks +4 –110 (2 Units)
The Ducks aren't as bad as people think. Outside of an embarrassing debut against Indiana (they outgained the Hoosiers 495-198), their only losses have come to No. 2 Oklahoma and No. 23 Arizona State. Oregon has won three of its last four games and simply has better all-around athletes than Stanford on both sides of the football. In their last 4 games, they have outyarded the competition 1904-1195. After an 0-2 start, the Ducks have reached the .500 mark for the first time this season and are in a five-way logjam for second place in the conference behind USC. The Ducks look to ride the momentum from emerging offensive and defensive attacks that have quietly ascended the national ladder as they hope to negate their own self-imposed restrictions.
After throwing three interceptions in the opener, QB Kellen Clemens has not thrown one since, and he's completing 62.1 percent of his passing attempts. He has risen to ninth in the country in total offense will take his chances against a defense rated last in the Pac-10 defending the pass. Clemens was 21 of 30 for 336 yards and a touchdown last week against Arizona. That came on the heels of his scintillating performance at Washington St. Clemens accounted for 473 yards in total offense (a career-high 437 yards passing) and tied a school record with six touchdowns in a 41-38 win that may have turned Oregon's season around. He leads the Pac-10 in total offense at 290 yards per game and he has thrown 170 consecutive passes without an interception, believed to be an Oregon record. Coach Mike Bellotti, who called Clemens' performance against Arizona his best effort of the season because of "his command of the game," said Clemens has assumed more of a leadership role this season. "He's a more demonstrative leader, more willing to call people out and require attention in meetings and things like that," Bellotti said. Receiver Demetrius Williams has been hounded by numerous ailments, most prominently a turf toe, but he caught nine passes for 153 yards against the Wildcats and could be the playmaker that Bellotti has been clamoring for. Oregon has a running back in Terrence Whitehead (averaging 5.7 yards per carry) to balance out the attack and keep Stanford honest defensively. Whitehead has rushed for 566 yards and four touchdowns; the Ducks are 2-0 when he rushes for more than 100 yards. Whitehead, who already has doubled his previous output of 100-yard efforts this season, will attempt to do so for the third time in his career vs. Stanford. The Stanford defense is allowing 16.2 points per game, second in the Pac-10 but it ranks 10th in pass defense, still much better than last year at 228 yards per game. However, facing the best quarterback they have seen since USC will be difficult. The Cardinal offense averages 28.5 points and 389 yards, fifth in the Pac-10 and substantially better than last year. Stanford is coming off a solid road win at Washington St. even though they were outyarded 437-383 and not going against the Cougars starting quarterback. Oregon is also improving on the other side of the ball. Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata appears to be finding his rhythm after injury problems. Ngata looked like what everyone expected Haloti Ngata to look like. He had a team-high eight tackles, including three for loss last week against Arizona. Oregon held Arizona to 266 total yards and 110 yards rushing. Now, the Wildcats are far from the best offense the Ducks will see, but in past years Oregon hasn't always stopped the bad ones. Oregon actually has the Pac-10's best pass defense midway through the year. In more good news, three other players who've missed action due to injury should be back for the Stanford game: cornerback Marques Binns, offensive lineman Robin Knebel and defensive tackle Matt Toeaina. The Ducks seemingly know their faults - 62 penalties in six games for 98.3 yards per game (most in the Pac-10), 20 sacks allowed (another Pac-10 high) and 12 fumbles lost (most in the Pac-10). And Oregon has overcome them, especially in the last two weeks against defenses on a par with Stanford’s. Last year, the Ducks snuffed Stanford on seven snaps at the goal line in “maybe one of the greatest things I’ve ever seen,” Bellotti said. It boiled down to strength, and “line of scrimmage,” Bellotti added. Revenge can be considered a motivation for Stanford but there really aren’t any games they can’t classify as payback situations. "Every game up to this point has been against teams that have beat up on us the last two years. Washington, Washington State ... everyone has kind of had our number,'' said Stanford senior linebacker David Bergeron.